Same-sex weddings have their day in Washington state

Dec. 9, 2012
|

Judge Mary Yu, right, congratulates Emily Cofer, left, and Sarah Cofer after declaring them wed moments after midnight in the King County Courthouse. The Cofers were the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Washington. / Elaine Thompson, AP

by Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

by Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

SEATTLE -- Wedding bliss swept across the state Sunday as hundreds of couples exchanged vows on the day same-sex marriage became legal in Washington.

Emily and Sarah Cofer were ronounced "legally wed" at 12:04 a.m. by the aptly named Judge Mary Yu at the King County Courthouse here. Sarah, 31, and Emily, 32, are third-grade teachers in Arlington, 45 miles north of Seattle. The couple had a commitment ceremony in 2010, and Emily took Sarah's last name. Nine months ago, their daughter, Carter, was born, and Sarah is now on maternity leave.

"We never thought we'd be a part of history," Sarah said.

Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass same-sex marriage by popular vote on Nov. 6, joining six other states -- New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont -- and the District of Columbia that had already enacted laws or issued court rulings permitting same-sex marriage.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election results of Referendum 74 on Wednesday, and the law took effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Because Washington state has a three-day waiting period, Sunday at 12:01 a.m. was the first opportunity for couples to wed.

At Seattle City Hall, artists filled the Grand Lobby with flowers and displays Sunday to serve as a backdrop for the 150 couples scheduled to be married there.

The building's outdoor plaza was a makeshift celebration point for newlyweds emerging from City Hall. As each wedding ended, the couple was escorted to the grand outdoor stairway, strewn with rose petals, that leads to the street. An accordion player serenaded them with the wedding march, an announcer introduced them to a cheering crowd.

Elizabeth Whitford, 37, and Cristina Acezedo, 40, were one of those couples. Whitford directs Arts Corps, an art education organization, Acezedo is an interior designer. They've been a couple for 16 years and had a commitment ceremony nine years ago. On Sunday they were accompanied by their son, Mateo, 6 -- and have another "on the way" said Acezedo.

"How could we not want to be part of the celebration?!" said Whitford.

Elsewhere, a joint wedding for about 25 couples was in the works at Seattle's First Baptist Church. And a double wedding was scheduled for the annual holiday concert of the Seattle Men's Chorus at Seattle Symphony Hall.

Not everyone was thrilled by the new law. Andy Pugno, general counsel for ProtectMarriage.com, an organization that opposes same-sex marriage in California, said the focus should be on "the role of marriage in society as an institution" that serves social purposes, such as building families and protecting children.

Pugno said he believes there will be "a small number of states that embrace a redefinition of marriage, but the vast majority of states will stick with traditional marriages."

Referendum 74 had asked voters to either approve or reject the state law legalizing same-sex marriage that legislators passed early this year. That law was signed by Gregoire in February but was put on hold pending the outcome of the election. Nearly 54% of voters approved the measure.

The law doesn't require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and it doesn't subject churches to penalties if they don't marry gay or lesbian couples.

Married same-sex couples will still be denied access to federal pensions, health insurance and other government benefits available to heterosexual couples pending challenges to the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act that bars federal recognition of gay unions.

Couples in Maryland were able to pick up marriage licenses Thursday, though in Maryland the licenses don't take effect until Jan. 1. Maine's law takes effect on Dec. 29 and the state has no waiting period, so couples can start marrying just after midnight.